That's how Julie Plec put it during an interview with E! News at the ATX Television Festival in Austin last week, as the producer focused on the main storyline heading into the Vampire Diaries Season 4 - Elena Gilbert as a vampire - and said:

"We're starting a new story. Same world, same characters, same feelings, same everything but for our ingénue, and our heroine, we are beginning."

Considering how transitioning typically emphasizes a human being's most dominant personality traits - Caroline is more bubbly, Damon more… Damon-y - what can fans expect from a blood-sucking Elena?

"Her compassion is her gift and her Achilles heel," says Plec. "She is fiercely loyal, fiercely protective, and very, very compassionate to those around her in that she can see the good and the bad. When all that stuff gets amplified, it's going to make her, hopefully, kind of a badass... it's like the birth of a supernatural heroine."

But Elena was also in a dark place even before turning, experiencing guilt over all the pain she's caused those around her.

How might that play out in vampire form? Explained Plec:

"Elena's dark side, so to speak, is actually in her deep, deep, deep connection to other people, whether they are light or dark. So now that these things get magnified, it is her connection to darker things and darker people, is that going to bloom at all or is she still going to be the infallible heroine? I think that grief can do a lot to send somebody off their rocker a little bit, so who knows what she could go through as a vampire."

No one but Plec and her team, that's for sure. We won't find out until TVD returns in October, but you can relive the past three seasons now when you watch Vampire Diaries online at TV Fanatic!

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Nicole•June 07, 2012 17:45

Elena a heroine? She never actually helps anyone, she just cries. All her "plans" turn to s**t. In the words of Damon, "you know what else was her call? everything bad EVER" I was hoping they would REALLY turn her into a badass vampire but now it looks like her superpower will be drowning people in her sea of tears.

They have so much material but ain't playing it at all. THIS. They talk about it and its like the show we are seeing and the show they are talking about are two entirely different things. I guess these writers just do NOT have talent to pull anything off. They keep talking about these great ideas and then they fall flat on their nose every season.

I like the story JP is putting out but I WANNA see it on screen. there is where her stories have loose ends. I want Elena SOLO! Without this triangle mess, to develop! But it seems like JP can't pull it off! She will be a Vamp, but weak at first! Interested how will they portray it and will her Alaric practicing skills come as a + now! They have so much material but ain't playing it at all. Hopefully Claire Holt stays as SR!

Season four sounds like it's going be worse than Season three. Yep. Klaus not dead? CHECK. Elena angsting about brothers being useless and pointless ? CHECK. Damon and Steffie being unlikeable wimpy crybabies? CHECK. Bonnie's "familY" comes in as plot devices? CHECK. More pointless filler plot devices? CHECK. This show ran out of steam. Something happened at the start of S2. And show never was the same afterward.

I don't know who Julie Plec is talking about but isn't Elena. THIS SO MUCH. Elena can barely described because we have seen no personality nor character at all in her. She had normal life to mourn? WHEN? WE NEVER SAW THAT. She cared about people? Well sure we were told that, never saw that. Sorry plec, too much focus on shitty triangle and random character deaths, not enough focus on characters.

Lacey D•June 07, 2012 16:22

I don't know who Julie Plec is talking about but isn't Elena. Season four sounds like it's going be worse than Season three. It's so sad that my favourite show is sinking so fast but some things you just ignore.

Julie Plec has said she can not see the show going on for years and years like other shows out there. So for me I like the idea of the reboot and I am sure we will get a couple more seasons and then they will wrap up the show. This for me is one of my favorite shows on tv and I am looking forward to October!

TVD fan•June 07, 2012 16:04

Wow if all of you who take the time to come here and read about the show and then in the comments say how much you hate the show, I feel sorry for all of you. Obviously you all ACTUALLY like the show or you would not be reading EVERY single article about the show and comment on it! So here is a thought if you actually do not like the show, stop reading about it and making silly comments and leave it for what it is supposed to be people that ACTUALLY like the show and like to comment about it in a good and positive way. There are many shows that are talked about and posted about on here and you can sure as hell bet that I do not read or comment on shows that I do not watch or do not like!!!!!!!!!!!

TVDiva•June 07, 2012 16:03

I m trying to figure out what the point is now that she turns. I get that her transition is going to be big but what is the threat now. Elena is now dead and a vamp probably ending the ability for there to be another future doppelgÃ¤nger.

You want a love that consumes you. You want passion and adventure, and even a little danger... I want you to get everything you're looking for. But for right now, I want you to forget that this happened. Can't have people knowing I'm in town yet. Goodnight, Elena.

Hey, Blondie. Today isn't the worst day of your life. Today and tomorrow, it's a cakewalk. There'll be people around you day in and day out like they're afraid to leave you alone. The worst day? That's next week when there's nothing but quiet. Just a heads up.